Page 49 of Final Approach

He couldn’t help wondering how Kristine was doing and if she needed anything. Hank was in his guest room and seemed to be settled, although he admittedly was still shaken about the call from the UC officer. The guy who’d died wasn’t a true friend, and he and Hank had clashed on more than one occasion, but Hank hadn’t wanted him dead, and definitely not because he’d run. Andrew tried to put a face to the name, but he couldn’t remember the guy.

He rolled over and punched the pillow while he let his eyes roam the room.

This was ridiculous. He sighed. He was wide awake. Why did he bother to even try sleeping? He’d never been able to nap, not unless he was absolutely exhausted. Which he wasn’t. He was simply tired.

He threw the covers off, pulled on sweats and a T-shirt, then walked into the den to take his laptop from the charger and sit at the kitchen table.

He typed inMarcus Brown, opened another tab, and typedTabitha Brown, thenColleen Pearson.

He’d asked other agents to look into what Hank had told him about the guy named Hopper, but so far nothing had come in about that.

One thing Jacob had said echoed in the back of his head. The restaurant his father would use if he was going to meet someone. The same place he took his kids on the weekend.

Mike’s. The café on South Main. And the look on Jacob’s face when he mentioned it.

He pulled up the notes and saw that two agents had already been there and talked to the staff. Yes, Marcus Brown was in there all the time. No, they didn’t know who he might have met with to arrange a hijacking. Everyone was shocked that the family man would do such a thing. And there was no helpful security footage.

Andrew leaned back and blew out a low sigh. Now what? Therehadto be something. He texted Nathan.

I want to go by Mike’s. Wanna meet me there?

Sure. What for?

Just to check it out. If Brown was going there on a regular basis, I want to see what he saw, feel the atmosphere, etc. Maybe talk to the workers once more.

All of them were tracked down and questioned.

I know.

Okay, sure, I’ll be there in 15. At Mike’s not your place.

Andrew sent him a thumbs-up emoji, rose, and got dressed in work clothes. He checked on Hank, who was out cold in the guest bed, then texted the agents on the house that he was leaving. He beat the after-church lunch rush to the café. Only a few tables were occupied, and he spotted Nathan seated at the bar. Andrew nodded to his partner. “How’s it going?” he asked.

“Nothing new. You?”

“Same.”

“What bugs you about this place?”

“Jacob.”

Nathan raised a brow. “Okay.”

Andrew shrugged. “I don’t know. Just something about his expression when he mentioned the place. Like it was ... longing.”

“Longing.”

“Yeah ... you know, like when you look at Jesslyn.” He smirked.

Nathan narrowed his eyes. “You really want to go there? Because I could bring up Kristine and your puppy-dog eyes.”

Andrew snorted, ignoring the heat climbing into his neck. “Dude...”

“Yes?”

“Okay, fine.” He looked around, taking in the scene. Two diners in their mid-twenties across the restaurant next to the big picture window. A table full of college-aged kids probably from the nearby Lake City University. The young girl in the booth in the corner who had a book open, an empty plate and half-filled glass of tea in front of her. He paused. She was awfully young to be by herself, but she didn’t look distressed. He’d ask a worker about her before he left. There could be a hundred reasons for her being there, but he still wanted to make sure it was a legit and safe one.

He slid onto the seat next to Nathan. The waiter pulled a device from his pocket and stepped up to them. “I’m Trevor. I’ll be waiting on you today. What can I get you?”